Rally to Stop #TarSandsNE Pipeline

The Mattapan Action Network is joining with @350NewEngland's Stop the #TarSandsNE Pipeline Action.  (See previous post to see why.)

Yesterday, though few, we took a stand at one of our neighborhood ExxonMobil stations, in solidarity with a statewide action coordinated through 350NewEngland to raise awareness about ExxonMobil's plans to bring tar sands oil into the Northeast region.

At minimum, ExxonMobil should not be able to pipeline oil sands through our communities without even an environmental impact study on the harm it might cause. 

BE #IdleNoMore!  Follow us @MattapanAction or use #TarSandsNE to track the issue.  Please consider the following action steps: 1. sign 350NewEngland's Pledge of Resistance; 2. ask your elected US Representative to request Pres. Obama require a Presidential permit for this pipeline; and 3. join the @350MA TarSands Pipeline Action Campaign. 

Never hesitate to contact your elected representatives.  It's especially urgent that you contact US Senators--John Kerry and Elizabeth Warren. 

Calling Sen. Kerry is particular key since he's soon to become Secretary of State. (The US State Dept. conducts the Presidential permitting process related to pipelines crossing US borders.)  You can even call his office now: 617.565.8519 or 202.224.2742.  Sen. Warren's office needs to hear it directly from you as well: 617.565.3170 or 202.224.4543.  

US Rep. Ed Markey sits on two of the House's key committees related to oil and gas: the Energy and Commerce Committee; and its Committee on Natural Resources.  

Contact all of them over the next week. In all cases, ASK her or him to request a Presidential permit for the project. 

(Right now, ExxonMobil's trying to exploit a use permit associated with an existing pipeline in order to channel tar sands oil through the northeast region.  A Presidential permit would trigger an environmental impact review that its current use permit does not require.)

BE #IdleNoMore!  Engage. Email us: MattapanAction@gmail.com if you'd like to join an #EnvironmentalJustice meetUp to soon come.   Use #EJmeetUp and #TarSandsNE to track the issue on Twitter.

Let's Be TarSands Free! No Pipeline

Stop the #TarSandsNE Pipeline Action

You've probably seen one of ExxonMobil's commercials promoting oil sands production. Typically they rely on the image of a professional person-of-color to sell us on the idea that oil sands production means good jobs for more Americans.

ExxonMobil doesn't want to talk about how oil sands extraction is hastening the environmental degradation of Earth--our only home.  How?  

First, by strip-mining the planet's only remaining ancient boreal forests--forests so dense they can absorb GHG-emissions. Obviously as these ancient forests disappear so will their capacity to slow our acceleration toward climate catastrophe.

Second, the process of extracting oil sands aka "tar sands" is itself toxic--meaning, it's laden with heavy metals, sulfur, carcinogens and neurotoxins that are harmful to human health. To make matters worse, toxic chemical compounds are added so 'the wheat' (bitumen--embedded petroleum deposits) can be separated from 'the chaff' (rock, stone, sand encasing it).  

The waste water from these toxic chemical processes are then stored in #ToxicPools; cause like other #DirtyEnergy producers, ExxonMobil hasn't figured out how to dispose of their waste in ways that don't endanger human health.  

There is another aspect of the press for oil sands that ExxonMobil doesn't want to talk about, however.  It would be too costly to build refineries in Canada to process oil sands--described as "the dirtiest oil there is."  So ExxonMobil wants to send tar sands through existing pipelines--pipelines that leak, spilling its toxic brew of oil and chemical into aquifers, rivers, streams, farmlands, etc.

It is because of this third step in the chain that Mattapan Action is rising up in protest.  We'll join @350NewEngland's Stop the TarSandsNE Pipeline Action--taking a stand at the ExxonMobil station at the intersection of Morton and Blue Hill Ave.  

During the morning and evening rush hours on 23 Janurary we'll be there to lend our voice of opposition--asking others to join us in contacting all their elected representatives. At minimum, ExxonMobil should not be able to pipeline oil sands through our communities without even an environmental impact study on the harm it might cause.    

Even if you can't join us at Morton & Blue on the 23rd, you can do the following: 1. sign @350NewEngland's Pledge of Resistance; 2. ask your elected representatives to request Pres. Obama require a Presidential permit for this pipeline; and 3. join the @350MA TarSands Pipeline Campaign. 

Hope to see you next Wednesday.